Teaching Relief Society & Priesthood

 I was touched not only by the message to always press toward the mark, but also by the message that we can/should all help each other to press toward the mark.  This activity is an effort to highlight those two sides of the coin.   The Activity: Read about Elder Dube's experience at his first general conference leadership meeting (par. 4-5:  "In 2012, I . . . toward the mark"). Discuss how we might at times be like Elder Dube-- held back in pressing toward the mark.  Talk about some of the things that might hold people (us) back. After a few moments, discuss how we can be like Elder Holland at times-- pointing others to press toward the mark.  Talk about specific things that could be done.   Talk about why small gestures could be so profound. Ask the class members to consider someone they could reach out to in a small way (a text or email, a call, a compliment, etc.) and challenge them to do that. Using the Activity: This is another example of an activity that is designe

 This activity is an important activity, but it is very general in that it could easily be applied to basically any lesson on any talk at almost any level of Church.  Still, this activity can be very powerful.  I just did a variation of this activity yesterday while teaching Elders Quorum and it was very powerful. The Activity: Give each class member a small piece of paper (index card, post-it note, etc.) and something to write with. Ask the class members to take a moment and review what has been shared in the meeting with a special focus on the three manifestations of God's love Elder Wakolo talked about. Now ask the class members to think about which area they should do better in, which one they should share about, and which one they should express more gratitude to Father for.  Ask them to consider specific actions they could take or specific aspects of these manifestations that need more attention in their life. After a moment of silent consideration, ask the class members to w

 This is a shorter talk, but it is a good example of a general authority who took the prophet's counsel from a previous general conference seriously and shares the fruits of that with us. The Activity: Divide the class into 5 groups. Explain that Elder Wong references 5 scriptures to explain how we can let God prevail in our lives: D&C 6:34 Matt. 7:4-27 Hel. 5:12 D&C 10:69 D&C 21:5-6 Assign each group one of the scriptures and ask them to discuss the following things: What the verse(s) counsel us to do? What are ways that we can apply that counsel? or How can we do that? What blessings will come as we apply this counsel? How have the class members seen these blessings in their lives? After a few minutes, bring the groups back together and ask each one to share what they discussed. Using the Activity: I am always intrigued by what the general authorities are reading in the scriptures-- what parts of the scriptures are capturing their attention?  where are they finding an

 As I read this talk I was moved to make a more sincere, consistent effort to know my Heavenly Father.   The Activity: Ask the class members to think about what they would tell someone who came to them and asked how they might come to know God.  What would their answers entail?  This should be done silently for a moment. After a couple of moments, have them turn to a partner and discuss what they came up with.  Tell the partners to try to come up with a short answer that they can both agree on. In another couple of moments, ask each partnership to join with one other partnerships (for groups of 4) and to share what each group came up with.  Ask these new groups to unitedly come up with a single sentence answer that they feel encompasses the most important aspects of how we come to know our Heavenly Father. After the groups have had some time, come back together and invite the groups to share their one sentence answers.  Write them on the board (or some of them). Ask the class members t

 The principle that stood out to me in this talk was one that I always find challenging-- overcoming my most deep-seated tendencies towards being less Christ-like than I should be.  I know that I won't ever overcome those tendencies completely in this life, but there is more I can do in this regard.  Also, note that I begin this activity with an activity from a popular author and member of the Church, Steven Covey.  I cannot take credit for it in any way; it is simply a really useful object lesson to get at what I am addressing in this activity. The Activity: Using the pictures and the explanation found here , show half of the class the picture of the young lady while the other half closes their eyes.  Then, have the first half shut their eyes while the other half is shown the picture of the old woman. Then, show the picture of them combined and ask who sees the old woman and who sees the young lady.   Ask the class members to discuss why they saw what they saw. Explain that in a s

 At the time I re-read this talk, I seemed to be in a series of lessons/discussions/etc. all relating somehow to the gospel principle of light and the light of Christ.  So, this activity comes out of my thinking at that time. The Activity: Make sure everyone has access to a copy of the talk either digitally or physically. Divide the board into two halves by drawing a vertical line down the middle.  Label one side light and the other side darkness. Read par. 10 ("This understanding of . . . saw 'great light'") and explain that this paragraph describes the change Elder Mutombo's family experienced when they accepted the gospel. Now, ask class members to skim the talk and identify other places where Elder Mutombo describes life with or without the light of the gospel. As class members find an example, ask them to share it.  As they do, write the phrase on the board and discuss it with other members of the class. After a few minutes, ask the class members to consider